MISSING WALLET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 175, 25 July 1940, Page 9

MISSING WALLET.

FARM HAND'S LOSS. POLICE COURT SEQUEL. HAIRDRESSER FOR TRIAL. The main wituess in a case which was heard by Mr. J. Morling, S.M., in the Police Court to-dav was a young farm hand, who alleged that he had been robbed of the contents of his. wallet on July 1 when he came to the city to be medically examined for military service. Accused was George Warren Shilton (45), a hairdresser, who was charged with stealing £7 belonging to Robert George Wright. Detective-Sergeant McHugh prosecuted and Mr. K. C. Aekins appeared for the prisoner. Met in Hotel. Robert George Wright said he came to the city on July 1 to be medically examined for military service, and, at 12.30 p.m. that day, he went into a city hotel and ordered a small bottle of beer. In the bar he spoke to accused, who joined him in a drink. Following a discussion concerning the war, witness said he told accused he was going to be medically examined that afternoon. Accused then told witness that he was ; a sergeant 411 the army at Papakura camp. Accused went with witness to the Drill Hall, after calling at another hotel and having another bottle of beer, which witness paid for. They reached the Drill Hall about 1.30. "While I wat waiting to be examined accused asked me if I had any money on me," continued. Wright. "I told him I had some. The accused told me it would 'be better if I let him hold my wallet as there had been a lot of raiding, or thefts from clothing there. I then handed him my wallet and purse. I know positively that when I handed them to him there was at least £7 in single notes in the wallet and between 5/ and 10/ in silver in the puree. There might have been £9 in the wallet. I went in and was examined, and on coming out about three-quarters of an hour later accused met me and gave me back my wallet and purse. I put both in my pocket. We both walked down Queen Street, and on passing a hotel the accused told me he was goins into the hotel to see a friend. He told me to wait outside. I did so, for about half an hour. I did not see accused again that day. When I happened to look in my wallet I found that all the money had gone." Witness added in reply to a question bv Detective-Sergeant McHugh that no one else but accused had the opportunity of stealing his money. On July 10 Wright said he attended an identification parade and picked accused out from a number of other men. Denial to Police. Detective B. J. McKeown said he interviewed Shilton at the detective , office on July 10 and told him of the ' allegations made by Wright. Shilton gave witness a statement in which he ' . admitted meeting Wright in a hotel and | going to the Drill Hall with him, but he denied that Wright had landed his wallet to him or that he had seen the !• wallet at any time. "I told Wright I \ used to be at Papakura camp and that ' I was attached to headquarters there," 1 said Shilton in the statement. "I 1 meant by this that that was some time 1 ago. I told him I was a sergeant ' there." Shilton pleaded not guilty and was ' committed to the Supreme Court for trial ou bail of £50.